Mold for concrete stairway runners



3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

EM/L J.' JOHNSON ATToR/vs Kr E. J. JOHNSON MOLD FOR CONCRETE STAIRWAY RUNNERS March 1, 1955 Filed Nov. 23, 1951 March l, 1955 E. J. JOHNSON 2,702,931

MOLD EoR CONCRETE sTARwAY RUNNERS Filed Nov. 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 29 4 b /4 26 25- 242 26 b 7 I l //0 76 INVENTOR. /c/'G /5 F/v//L a. JOHNSON March l, 1955 E. J. JOHNSON 2,702,931

MOLD FOR CONCRETE STAIRWAY RUNNERS Filed Nov. 23, 1951 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /LT TOR/VE Yo" United States Patent Oiiice This invention relates to ,new and useful improvements 175 in Lmoldsfor making concrete 'stairway' runners, andA more particularly to -such a device which isfreadily adjustable to vary 'the width-of the stairftread An important feature of the presentinvention'resides in theV unique formation of-the mold? which comprisesv a 20 bedplate yupon which 'the-various ymold 'parts areadjustably secured, whereby runners of diiferent sizes and angles may readily be formed on the'same mold by slightly shifting the positions of; themold-formingrparts on said plate. 25

A further object is to provide a d ual mold comprising a bedplate having aj plurality oftread-,and-riserI forming elements adjustably secured thereto along-the central portionl ofsaid plate, and wall formingemernbers lbeing securedfto said'plate adjacent the; side edges-thereof`to-30` form the bottom edges of therunners, and a pair of angle bars being positioned on saidtread-and-riser forming elements and cooperating with the bedplat e andsaid treadand-riser elements to form the steppedlupper edges-of the runners, the upright 4webs of'saidgangleb'ars cooperating j 35 with said wall membersytoforlnVtlie--lower'portions of the runners, and whereby said lower portions will be relatively thicker than the stepped upper edge-portions of the runners, thereby to reiufo'rcegtherunnes'.

Other objects of lthe invention reside in the-forrnation ,40 of the means for forming the endsof-= the -runners,; which are in the form of anglepplateshaving means'whereby they may be detachably secured tothe upright webs of said angle bars, and'inthe simple -m'eans providedV for adjustably securing theAtread-and-riser elements-to--the45\ bedplate, whereby they-mayreadily be adjustedrelative to one another to vary the width of lthe tread"portions of the runners; in the provision of suchV an apparatus having dual mold cavities whereby two Alike-*runners -`may be molded in one operation; and in the simpleiand inox-50 pensive construction of the mold whereby it' may be manud factured in quantityproduction at vvery low cost.

These and other objects of the-invention and the-means for their `attainment will be more .apparent-from theefold lowing description taken in connection witlr-the accom-55 panying drawings.

In the accompanying-drawings ythere hasbeen disclosed a structure designed to carry! out thefvariouslobjectsof the invention, but it is to'be understood that the-'invention is not confined to the exact ifeaturesrshown, as variouspfo.-

changes may be made within thezrscope of thefclaims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1is a plan or top view of 1the 4improved `mold herein disclosed, showing it arranged for a'four-steprun- 65 ner, and also showing the dual moldcavities whereby two left-hand runners maybe poured'at atime, such as shown in Figure 9;

Figure 2 is a perspective'view'ofl'oneioffthe tread-and4 riser elements removed from the-mold; i

Figure 3 is a viewshowing Vtherelationship'between adjacent tread-and-riser elements andthe meanswhereby the width of the tread portions ofy thea'unner -v may;` be varied in width;

Figure4 is a view on theline 4-4-of\fFigure.3;with q 75 the upper element removed;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional.. viewrronj'the.. lines :5l-f5.; yof Figure 1, showing the variouspartsf themoldsecured to the bedplate;

mold Acavities filled with' concrete;

2,702,931 Patented Man 1,. 1.955

Figure7 isxa fragmentary view on the line 7-7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is -a"cross'sectional'view ontthe lineS-S of Figure 1 showing the means forI securing the A,angle bars and the tread-,andLriser elements tothe bedplate;

Figure 9 isapperspective' View of a left-handrunner when `facing `thelru'nner;v

Figure l'is arfront edge `viewofFigure 9,;

Figure 11l is an outside view of` the runner shownin Figure 9;

Figure 12j is a-fview similar to'Fgure 1, but showing the partsI of the' mold'arrangedfor,making two right-hand runners; such as shownrin Figure 13;.

Figure 13'is a View similar toFigure-9, butshowing a right-hand runner;

Figure 14 is a front edge view ofFigure 13; and

Figure l5 isianenlargedl detail sectional View. on the line 15--15'of Figure 3,

The novel mold'herein disclosed is shown comprising a bedplate 2'which', for convenience, may be supported on suitable supporting railfs or beams 3, as illustrated in Figures 5," 6'and 8.' The bedplate is preferably rectangular inconfigpratiou, asgshownv in Figure 1. When the mold is to be utilized for making-dual'treads of like formation, elongatedwalYmembers 4' are secured to the marginal side edge portions thereof," which are adapted to form thebottom edges -5 oftherunners, Vas shown inlFigure 11. Each wallfrnemb'erA 4is shown having a base ange 6 seatedfupon the bedplatev2 andsecuredfthereto by suitablebolts 7f An important'featureof the invention resides in the novelV construction ofthe means provided for forming th'e tread'andriser portionsS and 9; respectively, `of each runner, generally' designatede'b'y the numeral 11. The tread-and'riseri forming elements, generally designated by the nurnerallZjare'best illustrated 'in Figures v2, 3 and 4. Bach such" element comprises anelongated central portion Si@ having oppositel'y` disposed right angle portions 1=lvand-15`l at its ends, as illustrated in Figures 2' and`3. Theelongated*centralportion 1'3" of l'each element 12is shaped, cross-sectionally, as `shown in Figure 15, wherein it'lwillfb'enotedftlratelongated semi-circular beads or ribs lii'aref'formed'ton the top-andl bottom sides of the central portion 13 off'each element 12.

These semiecircularbeadssorribs are adapted 'to form themortarreceiving grooves`20in the tread'portions of the-l runners, as'rsh'own infFigures'9t'and`13. The right angle-endportions14"and 15 oft each element are p rovided "withfy sim-ilarbea'ds forifribs 16" andk 17; respectively,

whichzform the vertical" grooves 18a in` theY risers.

Each treadeandlriser'irmng'element is'- also shown provided-=withiplteportions 9"and"21"located'in the median plane vthereof'and:extending inwardly from each endtofvsaid-lelement;asfshown in Figure2: These plate fport-ionsearehadapted to bef-engagedfb'y clamping plates 22 and 23 secured-together b'y vbolts-or Astuds 24; as shown in Figures f5 and-p thereby to adjustably secure together adjacent*treadand-riserfrmingfelements 12'; as will be understood-bye,reference to- Figures l; 5 and6;

To; facilitate the.` positioning of fthe clamping plates 22 and 23, the studs 24larepreferably-weldedV tothe lower clamping platesfZSwvhereby they become, in eiiect, in tegral partsV thereof. Byethus' adjustablyI securing together the-elernents\12; th'eyfmay readily v'beadjustedrelative -to onefanot-her in- -accordance to' the width 'of' thetread de sited: Itsshould-:also beenoted-thatwheny the tread-andriser forming,elernentsarefclamped together "by the 'plate elements-Zand f23-fand- `boltsdd;i all of-theelements utilized ins avgiven@ length; runner fare-secured together,l as :a

unity and theifopposednsides of saidffunitrwil-l beidentical insformationu` whereby dualfmoldcavitiesf A- and B, `are provided the@ mold y as` beste; illustrated` inA Figures 5 and 6.

To ,completatheffforrnationrofsthe., inoldt.- a.r pair of 'fangle barsf.25 ,are shown, hayingtheir, relatively .wider legsior, flanges. 26., Seated-onion ofthe. treadfand-riser forming ,elements lzgand are securedin ,position thereon by Clampinggplates 27'andLbo1ts .281. Theboltsrassbetween, the, adjacent edges `of `fthe barsV 25 and 'through apertures provided'in thebedplate'Z; ,as best illustrated in Figure 8. The uprightflegs-29 '-of angle bars25"-co operate with the upright wall members 4 to provide the lower portion of each mold cavity, which, it will be noted by reference to Figures 5 and 6, are relatively deeper than that portion of each cavity which forms the stepped upper edge portions of the runners, thereby to reinforce the lower portions of the runners, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 9 and 13. Suitable spacer blocks 40 may be inserted between the end portions of the angle bars 25 and the bedplate to support sa1d end portions, when the clamping bolts 28 are manlpulated to secure the angle barsV in position on the treadand-riser elements 12, as indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and l2. i

The upper edges of the wall member 4 and the leg 29 of each mold cavity are horizontally aligned and cooperate to provide the open top of a mold cavity. One end wall of each mold cavity is formed by a plate element 31 havlng a base flange 32 shown seated on the bedplate 2, and said end wall member also has a strap-like portion 33 at one end seated against the upright leg 29 of the adiacent angle bar 25, as shown at the ends of Figure l. The strap-like portions 33 of the end wall members 31 may be secured to the legs 29 of their respective angle bars 25 by suitable C-clamps 38. The opposite ends of the mold cavities A and B are formed by end wall members 35, each having a base flange 36 and a strap-like portion 37 at one end. The strap-like portions of said end wall members are seated against the upright legs 29 of angle bars 25 and are `secured thereto by conventional C-clamps 38. Similar end wall members 35, each having a base tiange 36 and a strap element 37 are similarly secured to the upright legs 2u of the angle bars 25 by C-clamps 38.

In the use of the novel mold herein disclosed, the various parts thereof are assembled on the bedplate as shown in Figure 1, wherebv two runner cavities A and B are provided which. it will be noted. are identical in configuration, wherebv the two runners simultaneouslv formed in said cavities will be identical in shape and will correspond to the left-hand runner shown in Figure 9, which is designed for a stairway comprising four steps. If a longer stairway is to be constructed, additional tread-andriser forming elements are utilized and. conversely. if a shorter stairway is to be produced, onlv four tread-andriser elements are utilized in the formation of the mold.

From actual experience I have found that six inches is a `good average height for most stairway risers, and I have therefore made no provision for varving the height of the risers for different stairways. Provision is made, however, for varying the width of the treads, whereby the angle n of the runners. when set up as shown in Figure 11, may be varied depending upon the pitch to be desired and the width of the treads. Such variation in the width of the treads may readily be accomplished hv simplv releasing the clamping elements 22, 23 and 27. and then longitudinallv shifting the positions of the tread-and-riser elements relatively to one another until the desired tread width is obtained. This will varv angle n of the runners, as will readily be understood. but the combined riser height of the completed stairwav will remain the same regardless of the width of its treads.

In Figure l2 it will be noted the positions of the treadand-riser forming elements 12 have been reversed from the positions of said elements in Figure 1, wherebv dual cavities are Fnrmer for making right-hand risers 30, such as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

From the foregoing, it will he noted that the novel mold herein disclosed may readilv be adiiwted to any desired tread width. and that bv the interlocking or overlapping arrangement of the tread-and-riser forming elements 12. dual mold cavities are formed which are disposed adiacent to one another, wherebv thev may readily be filled with wet concrete. As hereinbefore stated. the upper edges of the longitudinal wall members 4 and 29 are horizontally aligned. as indicated hv the broken line b-b, whereby a straightedge may readily be manipulated on said edges to level the wet concrete in the molds, as shown in Figure 6.

When the concrete has set sufficiently in the mold cavities to permit handling, the clamping plates 22, 23 and 27 are removed or released, whereupon the angle bars 25 may be detached, and thereafter the tread-and-riser forming elements 12 may readily be removed from the bedplate to free the concrete runners, which are then loosely supported on the bedplate.

The apparatus as a whole is extremely simple and inexpensive as it will be noted the tread-and-riser forming elements 12 are all identical in construction and, in like manner, the end wall members 31 are identical, and also the end wall members 35.

The novel mold herein disclosed, when used in conjunction with the step-forming mold illustrated in my Patent No. 2,558,615, granted June 26, 1951, makes it possible to manufacture stock concrete stairways in large quantities at very low cost. While the runners illustrated in Figures 9 and 13 are applicable for a four-step stairway, it is to be understood that the length of the runners may readily be varied by simply increasing or decreasing the number of tread-and-riser elements 12 used in the formation of the mold. In an installation requiring a rather long stairway, it may be found more desirable to use a plurality of stock or four-step runners, and arrange them in end-to-end relation to provide the required length stairway.

In such installations suitable abutments must be provided at the joints between adjacent runners to support and retain the runner sections of each composite runner in longitudinal alignment, and also to prevent displacement of the runner sections longitudinally and laterally. Such abutments may readily be made with wet concrete, when the stairway is used on an inclined bank or slope. If the stairway is to be embodied in a building structure, a suitable structural support may be erected for supporting the intermediate portions of the runners.

In some installations, it may also be found more desirable to make the runners of uniform thickness throughout their full width. This may readily be accomplished by eliminating the angle bars 25 and substituting relatively lower side walls for the wall members 4, shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8, the height of said substitute wall members being equal to the height of the tread-and-riser elements 12, as will be understood by reference to the drawings. Suitable means, not shown, is then provided for securing the elements 12 to the bedplate.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mold for making stairway runners each having an upper stepped edge and a lower longitudinal edge, a bedplate, a wall member secured to said bedplate adiacent one side edge thereof and extending at least the length of the runner to be made for forming the lower longitudinal edge of the runner, a plurality of angular tread-and-riser forming elements supported on the intermediate portion of said bedplate and disposed in angular relation to said wall member, said elements being disposed in olfset relation to one another to form the tread portions of the runner, clamping elements engageable with said tread-and-riser forming elements to adiustably secure them in position on the bedplate, and an elongated member of right angular cross-section seated upon and secured to said tread-and-riser forming elements and constituting portions of the top wall of the mold, the bottom wall of said cavity being dened by the bedplate.

2. In a dual mold for forming concrete stairway runners, a xed bedplate, opposed longitudinally extending wall members secured to said bedplate adjacent to the marginal side edges thereof and cooperating to form correspondingly upright walls of the mold cavities, a plurality of tread-and-riser forming elements adiustably secured to the bedplate between said wall members in angular relation thereto and disposed in offset relation to one another and cooperating to form the tread-and-riser forming wall portions of the mold cavities, said tread-andriser forming elements being of like configuration and each comprising a central web disposed in the median plane of said elements, clamping bars engageable with the webs of adjacent tread-and-riser forming elements to adjustably secure them together and to the bedplate, a pair of longitudinally disposed angle bars seated on said tread-and-riser forming elements and forming portions of the top Walls of the mold cavities, and end wall members detachably secured to said angle bars for deiining the end walls of the mold cavities.

3. A mold according to claim 2, wherein the opposed wall members and said tread-andriser forming elements cooperate to provide two separate mold cavities.

4. In a mold for making* concrete stairway runners, a bedplate, a member securcl to the top surface of said bedplate and having an elongated wall surface extending outwardly from the bedplate to form an upright wall of the mold cavity, a plurality of angular tread-and-riser wall forming elements secured to the bedplate in angular spaced relation thereto and being disposed in offset relation to one another to form the tread-and-riser wall surfaces of the mold cavity, said tread-and-riser wall forming surfaces each having a longitudinal bead thereon located in the median plane of said wall surfaces adapted to form mortar receiving recesses in the tread-and-riser Wall surfaces of the completed stairway runners, means for adjustably securing said tread-and-riser elements in position on the bedplate in accordance with the size of stairway runner to be made, and a member seated upon and secured to said tread-and-riser elements and forming a portion of the top Wall of the mold cavity.

5. In a dual mold for forming concrete stairway runners, an elongated bedplate, opposed longitudinally extending wall members secured to said bedplate adjacent to the marginal side edges thereof and cooperating to form corresponding upright walls of the mold cavity, a plurality of tread-and-riser forming elements positioned on the bedplate between said wall members in angular relation thereto and disposed in oiset relation to one another and cooperating to form the tread-andriser forming wall portions of the mold cavities, said treadand-riser forming elements being of like configuration and each comprising a centrai web disposed in the median plane of said elements, clamping bars engageable with the Webs of adjacent tread-and-riser forming elements to adjustably secure them together and to the bedplate, a

pair of elongated members seated upon and secured to said tread-and-riser forming elements to form portions of the top walls of the mold cavities, a pair of end wall forming members detachably secured to said elongated members for defining the end walls of the mold cavities, said end Wall forming members being disposed in right angular relation to one another, whereby one or" said end wall forming members defines the bottom horizontal edge of each completed runner, and the other of said end wall forming members defines the vertical edge of the upper end of each runner.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,022 Gutteridge Aug. 22, 1911 2,558,615 Johnson lune 26, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 414,162 France June 13, 1910 55,494 Holland Nov. 15, 1943 

